With four years of development and 18-months of ride time done, Specialized finally releases Levo 4. So how good is it?

| WORDS: Myles Kelsey | IMAGES: Ray Cox | Location: Helderberg Trails, Somerset West |

You probably remember in 2015 when Specialized released the first generation Levo because at the time, it was easily the best eMTB on the market and everyone was talking about it. What you might not remember is the brand continued to develop in this space and managed to release their second-generation Levo, well before many brands had entered the market at all.

However, by 2019 other major brands entered the eMTB market and began chipping away at the dominant market share Specialized enjoyed. In 2021, Levo 3 arrived with MX-wheelsizing, class-leading geometry and easily the best App on the market. To Levo 4 then, what are the updates, who is this bike for and is it best-in-class?

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Video: First Ride

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Features and Details

The first thing you need to know about this new Levo is it’s a completely new chassis, motor, and battery. What Specialized hasn’t changed muched, is the travel, geometry, adjustability and wheelsize. Levo 4 is a 150 rear, 160 fork, full-power eMTB that is available in four models and five sizes with reach numbers starting at 435mm and rolling up to 535mm.

There’s more power, a lot more. The new proprietary motor has 101Nm and 666watts of krag, which is significantly higher than it’s predecessor. Then there’s this S-Works model which has 111Nm and 720watts to play with. Inside the new motor are large metal gears that are now double the size, making them less susceptible to heat expansion, and more durable.

All models of Levo 4 are sold with a new 840Wh internal battery. An aftermarket 600Wh battery is available for riders who want to downsize. I’m told the weight saving there is about 1kg. Additionally, a 280Wh range extender (an external battery that is housed in the water bottle cage) is also available. Interestingly, Specialized says the bike can be ridden with no batteries or just the range extender battery.

The side-entry battery locks into place with a hex key and with the batteries being more compact there is now storage space inside the top section of the downtube. That’s very neat! Attention has been paid to the details and the storage bag has small magnets that hold it securely, preventing it from rattling.

In addition to the three support modes of Eco, Trail and Turbo is Micro Tune and Dynamic Micro Tune. Essentially the Micro Tune options allow for on-the-fly adjustments to the support levels. You won’t need to open the App for this, just toggle the controller.

Looking a little closer at the geometry, the seat tube is slightly steeper, there’s about 30mm more standover clearance and the chainstays are a little shorter too. Unless you fit a tiny 2.2″ tyre, you won’t get a 29er wheel into this Levo. I didn’t try it, but just stop thinking about it. eMTBs are better in the MX wheelsize!

Gone too is the side-arm structure that hugged the shock. Thank goodness! It was an eye-sore. Also new is the lifetime warranty on all the bearings, for original owner that is. Another small but neat feature is all the allen bolts on the four-bar linkage suspension system are the same size – which makes bolt checking a breeze.

It’s a beautiful bike, with so much attention to aesthetics and function. Small rubber grommets hug the cables where they enter the frame, the AXS derailleur charges off of the main battery and there’s a small mud guard covering the main pivot, protecting it from muck.

As you can imagine, the build kit on this R295k bike is the best of the best. SRAM Maven Ultimate Brakes, Roval Traverse wheels, Fox Factory suspension, carbon cranks and SRAM T-Type XX drivetrain.

The secret behind the dual-purpose nature of the Levo is the adjustability. An offset headset allows for steepening or slackening of the head angle, by one-degree in either direction. A flip-chip on the chainstay changes it’s length by 9mm and a flip-chip inside the lower shock mount allows for a 6mm change in BB height.

Also standard issue on all models of the new Levo are the brand’s Butcher Gravity Casing tyres. Heavier than a Trail Tyre yes, but they improve climbing and descending performance grip whilst also adding durability.

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First Ride Impressions

We visited Helderberg Trails in Somerset West for this first ride review, a venue I spend a lot of time at which makes it ideal for a test ride. I owned a Levo 2 and Levo 3 and spent about five years on them, that familiarity gave me immediate insights into the advances of the ‘science club’ with the new Levo.

As far as low-speed handling, Levo 4 rolls through and exits tighter uphill corners very efficiently and with minimal rider input. In these situations, even in Trail mode, it feels like the power rolls on (kicks in) a lot faster.

Getting up and over chunky terrain like pavements or rocks is pretty easy too. I reckon this is due to a few things like the shorter chainstays, high-rise bars, a lower center of mass (the battery sits lower in the frame) that all combine to make the front end ride lighter.

The biggest change I felt with the geometry is the lower standover. With that top tube now around 30mm lower, there’s more room to shift around the bike and I felt untethered — free to huck and make the bike do things. Also worth mentioning is that Specialized has expanded the overrun on this new motor which has also boosted agility and it just makes the bike easier to ride up tricky sections of trail.

I’m not gonna lie. I’m not gonna sugar-coat it. The high-speed handling of this bike is incredible. On flow lines, jumping corners and railing turns I’m still using a lot of travel (like on the Levo 3) but the bike isn’t blowing through all the travel on every hit. I did get to end-of-travel on the suspension (and tyres!) during the first ride, but without any clangs, bangs or harsh feedback coming through my feet and hands.

The bike is very stable in the air without any kicking, wallowing or weirdness to counter. I do think the rear center is a little stiffer – laterally – which helps with corner grip and sends more positive feedback through. As a result, Levo 4 is an easy bike to ride fast. I didn’t need to spend much time correcting things.

A few more random thoughts | Specialized says the motor purrs, and I agree – the older models were quiet too, but this one is almost inaudible. As for the extra power – whether you use it or don’t it’s really nice to have.  One thing is for sure, in racing conditions, it’s going to be difficult to beat this bike. Compared to other eBikes, there’s less vibrations coming from the motor and chassis – those engineers at Specialized really have done their homework on this system.

The Verdict | Specialized has listened and is now giving riders exactly what they have been asking for: bigger batteries, more power, more tuning capabilities and a more progressive rear suspension. With these changes there is about 1kg more heft but because the added mass is low, it’s hardly noticeable when riding. Factor in the unique feel and manner in which the power rolls on, I think this is one of the easiest eMTBs to ride. As a result, this is one of the easiest eMTBs to ride and I expect it to be very popular here in South Africa. Levo 4 is a very very good bike. //

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